What Can I Use as an Alternative to Milk?
You might be surprised to hear the most people on this globe are lactose intolerant. Drinking milk after infancy isn’t as “natural” as we might have believed. The bodies of people who are lactose intolerant can’t process mammal milk and if they consume it they’ll feel or get sick. When we say most people are lactose intolerant we mean substantially more than half. If you happen to be one of the many, and it would be normal if you were, you’re probably on FoodCrowd’s site looking for milk alternatives for your tea, your coffee, your baking, your cereal, your shakes.
There are other reasons people choose, rather than are forced, to find alternatives to liquid dairy products. Some follow more restrictive diets like being vegan. For ethical or health reasons, vegans refrain from consuming any animal products, whether it be meat or dairy (and some extend that to not eating honey or even wearing any leather). Others who avoid milk believe non-dairy alternatives are better for the environment because of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by dairy cows. Other people just want to expand and vary their diet by including other kinds of milk-like beverages with the different nutritional profiles they have.
Some of the alternatives to milk
Almond milk has a great feature which is that it has fewer calories than cow’s milk (if sugar-free). It tastes rich and creamy making it perfect for your morning hot drink. On the downside, if you have a nut allergy, this milk is obviously not for you.
One non-nut milk alternative is soy milk. It is one of the oldest milk substitutes, dating all the way back to 14th century China. The ingenious people behind this delicacy have had time to perfect its taste, texture, and smell. That means it’s a highly popular option. It’s also perfect if you have a pesky nut allergy. It’s high in protein – soy milk goes great in protein shakes – and low in saturated fats and high in isoflavones, a heart-fortifying antioxidant.
Oat milk hit the ground running in the non-dairy milk-like beverage category not too long ago, and it’s perfect for anyone who can’t have nuts or soy or lactose. It’s also thick like delicious whole milk. It can be a bit like having a piece of toast though with all the carbs, so careful how much you use.
If none of these options catch your eye, and you’re one of the many lactose intolerants among us, you can also just go for lactose-free milk and get all the taste of milk without any of the nasty side effects.
Since all of the different milks have different nutritional properties (where one is strong, another is weak, and vice versa), your best bet might be to just go with whichever one’s taste you like the most, if your restrictions aren’t due to allergies, that is. Take a look at the ingredients and adjust your intake accordingly to make sure you’re getting the B12, the magnesium, the calcium, and the right number of calories and sugar you were aiming to cover with regular milk or mix and match to spice it up a bit.
Balance your diet out a little: try some of our alternatives next time you are shopping for milk.